The Federal Government has cited the Land Use Act of 1978 as evidence that he lacks the constitutional power to create cattle colonies across the country, saying that the Act empowers state governors and local government chairmen to control land in their domain.

The President made the clarification yesterday, during the South-South Zonal meeting of the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups (NCBSG) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Speaking through his Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, the President stated: “When Nigeria created states, each of the states made laws to regulate rearing of animals. In 1978, under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as head of state, March 28, I think, the Land Use Act was made. Under the Land Use Act, the President of Nigeria has power to control lands in Abuja only.

“Under the Land Use Act, each state governor, under Section 2 of the Land Use Act, land in urban areas of each of the state of the Federation shall be vested on the governor. Now, subsection 1(2b) says land in the rural areas shall be vested on the local government chairman of that area.”

The President assured that his administration was committed to laying the foundations to fight theft, diversion and misappropriation of public funds, but also steadily diversifying the economy for sustained growth and tackling the security challenges in the country.

His words: “As a government, we are committed to laying the foundations upon which an equitable and progressive society can be built, in which all citizens can look forward to the opportunities for realising their full potentials without let or hindrance.

“While it is still work in progress, we are confident that the amount of work done in the first 32 months of this administration points to a new solid foundation for building the Nigeria of our dreams.

“Not only did we ease out of an inevitable recession in record time, our revenue profile, our foreign reserves and foreign investments are all on the rise again; and we have paid mobilized contractors back to project sites across the country, including the South-South Zone.”In his welcome address, former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, said Buhari has proven to the people of South-South and Southeast geopolitical zones of the country, that he is a friend and not an enemy.